'Gulabi Gang', a group of rural women in pink saris who fight against social injustice in Uttar Pradesh has undoubtedly put forward a strong example but the concept isn't easy to be exported abroad, says author Amana Fontanella Khan who is based in Europe.
Amana, who has written a book on the gang titled "Pink Sari Revolution" says, "The strength of the Gulabi Gang is that it is a grass-roots response to crimes happening locally but I am not sure how easy it would be to export their model. That said, the main principle of the gang that 'Marginalised women can attain power through unity with others', can be applied anywhere."
"Pink Sari Revolution: A Tale of Women and Power in India" published by Pan Macmillan is the story of a child bride Sampat who is now leader of the famous 'Gulabi Gang' and a former government health worker.
The gang, which has above 20,000 members and also a chapter in France, was formed in 2006 as a response to widespread domestic abuse and other violence against women.
The pink sari-clad women visit abusive husbands and beat them up with laathis unless they stop abusing their wives.
Drawing comparisons with other such groups across the globe, Amana told PTI in an interview that,"The problem of violence against women exists in every society in the world, but the remedies required will vary depending on the context and cultural variants of the problem. "
"RAWA [Revolutionary Afghan Women's Association] is a similar group dedicated to educating and empowering women in Afghanistan. It demonstrates the kind of courage I have seen in the Gulabi Gang and Sampat Pal on numerous occasions.
Femen, the Ukranian women's group that employs topless protests, demonstrates the same media-savviness that has served Sampat and her gang so well. But its difficult to define a universal concept," she says.
The book talks about how the gang came to rescue of a 17-year-old girl, Sheelu who was unlawfully abused and imprisoned at the behest of a local politician.
"I first heard about the gang in 2010 and their story captured my attention immediately. It is rare that women in disadvantaged communities are portrayed as anything but victims, so the powerful and victorious nature of the gang appealed to me," says Amana.
